The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-29
MILAN'S OPPORTUNITY.
A Projected Railroad to Florence,
Ala --45O,OOO Already Subscribed
by one Company.
The Southeast Looking to Us for on
Outlet TO the Northwest. Let us
Meet 9hem Half Way.

The people of North Alabama are
again looking towards Milan for
railway connection with the north,
west We have published cOnsidera.
ble matter in these colamns hereto.
fore in the interest of a line to the
iron regions of Tennessee and Ala
bama, and we are still of the opinion
that Milan is the best point from
which to start. If the Illinois Cen
tral people will take hold of the mat.
ter, liberal aid can he secured all along
the line, and the shortest route from
Chicago and st. Louis TO the south.
east will thus he opened. 1t will be ii
paying road from the start, as it will
run through the finest timber and iron
counties Of the state and tap the
great coal and iron fields of Alabama
The following extract from a spe-
cial to the Nashville American indi-
Gates that the Florence people are in
dead earnest, as they have subscribed
800. 900 to the enterprise;
Some gentlemen came proposing to
build railroad from Milan or Jack.
son, Tenn, to this place, and the
Land Company promptly voted $50,
600 to the enterprise out of its assets,
and the gentlemen are pressing the
enterprise else where along the project.
ed line. This, if built, will run
through valuable mineral section,
traVersing the company's ore lands
and the fine property of the Tennes-
see Valley Iron u Railroad Company,
and connecting with the Illinois Cen
tral Railroad and giving an outlet
there. Another railroad is projected
south from Florence to Tuscaloosa,
traversing and opening up the celebra.
ted Warrior coal fields, and the par.
ties pressing the matter expect to eff
feet its accomplishment very soon.
They are backed by capital and strong
influences, and the beneficial results
to flow from such a road Insure its
success. These parties were on hand
by a representative, and the Land
Company appropriated considerable
amount to this, to Oe paid upon the
completion of the road from Florence
to the coal fields.
Maj. Wills, one of the directors of
tho Florence land and iron company,
few days since said to a reporter of
the Nashville Union:
ave made large subscription for
a road to run from Milan, on the Iii.
nOis Central road, across the Tennes>
see river, through the northern part of
Wayne county, and extend down
through the valuable ore beds belong
ing to the company in the heart of
Wayne county, into Florence. 1t
will open up the lands of the Flor.
enCe land company, the Tennessee
Valley Coal aud Railroad company
and that recently purchased from the
Cheatham heirs by Col, Warner and
others of Nashville
In addition to these, to show that
the eyes of capitalists and live think
ing men are looking this way, we call
attention to the following letter, writ
ten by Mej. W. ]. Sykes, one of the
hest posted men in the southwest.
His idea is to build from here to
Birmingham but we think the two
need not conflict. Th. road might be
built from here to Florence and ex.
tended from there to Birmingham,
thus connecting with roads to the
southeastern seacoast. We respect,
fully call the attention of the Illinois
Central authorities to this scheme and
hope they will consider it carefully.
We believe Milan would give all the
land necessary for shops and tracks
for this road here, and would go to
work earnestly for the road. Hem
derson county, now without an ont.
let, would also give liberally,as would